Analysis: Swansea City have nothing to fear after stunning show at Newcastle United

There was a danger of Swansea City’s players missing their plane journey to Newcastle on Friday.

There was a danger of Swansea City’s players missing their plane journey to Newcastle on Friday.

They were certainly flying 24 hours later.

Fog in Rhoose, rather than on the Tyne, had meant a late dash from Cardiff to Birmingham airport instead, battling with rush-hour traffic; hardly ideal preparation when looking for a result to get away form off the ground.

And yet they delivered it with a display of organisation, understanding and incisiveness, one that propelled them into the top half of the Premier League table and as close to the Champions League as they are to relegation places.

Not quite time to book those European flights, of course.

But, after goals from Michu and Jonathan de Guzman, Swansea are undeniably edging towards the mid-table air of relaxation and respectability, rather than relegation dogfights.

There was a maturity about the performance at St James’ Park, an away display of cutting counters and focused defending which tend to be attributes of those sides who look up the table, rather than over their shoulders.

Most importantly, after a run of games where performances had impressed without getting a win, the victory and the three points were deserved and delivered – not to mention a first away victory since the opening day of the season.

Indeed, there are now 16 points next to their name at present, three more than the same stage last year.

Swansea’s aim must always be to reach 40 as soon as possible, but is Laudrup prepared to adjust ambition?

“You can’t say after every couple of games where the balance is and where we are looking. I still think we look when we get to 19 games and the halfway point and then we can see where our realistic goal is.”

So we all know what that first question at Reading’s Madejski Stadium on Boxing Day will be, then.

However, he may be new to this Premier League lark, but Laudrup is not naive enough to start thinking Swansea are cruising just yet.

He admitted he couldn’t even enjoy this performance, even though the way his players carried out instructions of shape and swift, sweeping counters to both frustrate and flummox Newcastle was spot on.

“When I watch it again at home I will enjoy it because I know the result,” the Dane smiled afterwards.

No doubt that in-game nervousness on the sidelines was not helped by Swansea’s blunt finishing after carving open the Toon time and again before Michu eventually headed home just before the hour mark, missing a few more for good measure before de Guzman sealed it three minutes from time.

And there would have been a frustration that a goal was shipped when Ba eventually finished in injury time, denying a first clean sheet since the second week of the season when it had been deserved.

Newcastle may have been fairly one-dimensional – the winding runs and whipped delivery of Hatem Ben Arfa the only alternative to high-balls searching for Ba and the brothers Ameobi – but they were still dealt with.

Swansea were not intimidated – like they were by Cheick Tiote last term – although were helped by the absence of Yohan Cabaye among others.

Still, the manner in which Swansea stayed tight as a unit at the back and then sprung forward with concise passing inspired to think that Laudrup has got his away day tactics just right for this team.

He was helped by Michu – dropped into midfield as Itay Shechter was handed a first start – who pressed high and panicked Newcastle, making no mistake when the cross came for his goal and making worries that Gylfi Sigurdsson would be missed this season seem unfounded.

After all, the £2m man has now gone past the Icelanders tally in six fewer games.

But, whereas the defence set the platform, it was Pablo Hernandez who ensured Swansea made the most of it.

The Spaniard can often frustrate with his workrate and Ben Davies would have appreciated greater assistance when Ben Arfa attacked the flank.

But he can also dazzle, not so much in beating players as fellow fliers Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge, but with the quality of touch and pass.

Although Tim Krul’s inexplicable clearance to the winger was fortunate, the timing and accuracy of his cross for his compatriot’s goal was pure ability.

He should have had an assist earlier, his slide pass to Dyer six minutes in scuffed while Shechter was twice denied by Krul before the Israeli skied from his clever cutback following another superb counter.

And, after Michu finally took his opportunity, he should have finished when the ex-Valencia man played him in 14 minutes from time.

With Ba equally inaccurate on the occasions he did find space, Swansea’s ability to tough out the Newcastle storm found rewards when de Guzman finished when Graham’s shot was spilled.

And while Ba’s finish frustrated – even more so when replays showed Tremmel was prevented from an attempt to save by Steven Taylor clambering on his back – it could not deny Swansea.

“The best performance away from home,” Laudrup said later, only last term’s commanding and complete victory at Fulham springing to mind as better since promotion to the Premier League.

“We showed how we play. We try to break quickly, although it’s not possible in every game.

“We have played some away games where we did not have a good day in possession and, because the other team are stronger than us, we lost.

“It happened when we played Stoke, where we didn’t have any chances.

“Obviously we depend a lot on how we treat the ball, but when we do well you seen the way we play.

“This is the way we train always and play and when we do well we are a very good team.”

That they do. Just how good will be seen over the coming weeks and months, with three games in six days involving Liverpool and fourth-placed West Brom at the Liberty before the next away day at Arsenal.

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